Walter Mazzarri is confident Napoli deserved their draw in Bergamo, apologised to GoranPandev and cleared up an EzequielLavezzi mystery.

The Partenopei snatched a stoppage-time point against Atalanta when EdinsonCavanicancelled out the German Denis opener.

“I don’t talk about the performance only with regards to the result and in the first half we played well, although didn’t take our chances,” said the Coach.

“I was interested in our approach in a very difficult arena. The team was there and that was the important thing. Denis scored a great goal and put us under pressure, but at the end Cavani got a deserved equaliser.”

Lavezzi was initially rested for an hour, but Pandev seemed very irritated when he was substituted.

“Pandev was angry and perhaps he was right, as I could’ve kept him on for another 10 minutes. He was improving. At that moment, though, I needed the pace and agility of Pocho. I will apologise to Pandev.”

There was also a mystery over Lavezzi, who appeared to be booked and that would’ve ruled him out of the next game with Juventus.

“I personally asked the referee and we verified that by looking at the report. Lavezzi was not carded.”

Juventus are now breaking away at the top of the table, so are Napoli still in the Scudetto race?
“The newspapers made that our target, but we never did. We beat Inter and Milan, so they said we were title-contenders, but the Champions League takes a lot out of you. We’re missing four or five points because of those commitments.”